It was a dark and stormy night as a young boy dressed in ragged clothing walked down a deserted street in the small town of Glenwood. As he went, he clutched onto his old horse's reins. By and by the pair stopped beside a shop that still had a small light on. He went to the door, pushed it open, and carefully looked around. An old man was working with a lamp in the back.
"Hello," called the small boy, not sure if he should turn and run away.
The old man looked up, and seeing the boy invited him to come closer. He could see that the boy was no more than maybe six years old.
"Hello, there," said the man, "What can I do for you? You do look in a bit of a state."
The boy just looked at the man. He seemed a bit tongue-tied.
The old man had just made himself some soup, and he poured out a small mug offering it to the boy. "Now," he said, "You look like you need a drink, but tomorrow you must do something for me."
The boy had no one else to turn to, but he was cold and hungry, so accepted the soup.
After the soup, the boy fell asleep and the old man got him a blanket to keep him warm.
The next day, when the boy awoke, the old man asked him if he'd like to sleep there again. To the boy, it seemed like a good idea. But the old man expected him to work for food and for somewhere to sleep.
The old man gave him a job collecting scrap metal. It was a hard life for the young boy, but having a place to sleep, especially on nights when the rain and wind howled outside was at least something. Yet at other times, the world seemed to be against him.
One day, as the boy was making his way back to the shop after another long day of collecting metal, some scooter boys annoyed him by circling around him. They began to taunt him, making fun of his horse, and laughing at him as they sped off into the distance.
But the boy wasn't alone for long. A twelve-year-old girl who had been watching the scene unfold came over and offered to help him. She invited him to her home where her mother kindly made him some scones and gave him a warm blanket to sleep with.
After talking with the lady, the boy realised that the old man who had taken him in was not as kind as he seemed. He had been deceitful and was only using him for his own gain.
The boy was heartbroken but he knew he had to leave the shop. He packed his bags and made a run for it, with his horse beside him.
Determined to start a new life, the boy and his horse rode deeper into the countryside where they found a new home on a farm. The boy was happy once again and was grateful for the kindness of that girl and her mother who had shown him that not everyone in this world was like the old man in the shop.
Years went by and the boy grew into a man, but he always remembered the lessons he had learned on those dark and stormy nights. He became a wealthy landowner and dedicated his life to helping those less fortunate than himself, just like the girl and her mother had helped him.
And so, the story of the boy and his horse became a legend in that small town of Glenwood, a story that was passed down from generation to generation. A story of kindness, deceit, and the power of the human spirit to rise above the storms that life throws our way.
©Alan D Winter 2023
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